Method and system for establishing network connection to a wearable eeg monitoring module

ABSTRACT

A system and a method for providing a network connection for a computer device ( 21 ) to a wearable EEG monitoring module ( 1 ) having a gateway to the Internet ( 16 ), and comprising a patient record server ( 25 ) accessible over the Internet, and providing an electronic patient medical database ( 26 ), each patient record including a unique identity for an associated wearable EEG monitoring module; a control server ( 19 ) providing an EEG module connection register ( 19   a ) including the unique identity of EEG monitoring modules associated with current connection information; and a network connection handling element ( 43 ) being adapted for detecting the presence of a wireless connection between the wearable EEG monitoring module ( 1 ) and the gateway, and for uploading current connection information to the control server ( 19 ). The control server ( 19 ) is adapted for updating the convection information in the EEG module connection register ( 19   a ) when receiving communicated Connection information, and for providing the current connection information to a computer device ( 21 ) upon request. The computer device ( 21 ) is adapted for establishing a direct connection to the wearable EEG monitoring module ( 1 ) based on the current Connection Information Requested from the control server ( 19 ). The invention further provides a wearable EEG monitoring module ( 1 ) and a computer-readable storage medium.

The invention relates to a system and a method for providing a networkconnection to a wearable EEG monitoring module via the Internet. Morespecifically the invention relates to a system for remote surveillanceof an EEG signal of a person susceptible of having a hypoglycemicseizure, where the system comprises an EEG sensor having electrodes formeasuring one or more EEG signals from said person. The invention alsorelates to a wearable EEG monitoring module.

For persons with diabetes accurate control of blood sugar concentrationis important. The level should not be too high in order to limit therisk of long term effects of diabetes. The blood sugar level should alsonot be too low, since this might lead to hypoglycemia, where the personbecomes absent and may become unconscious. Hypoglycemic attacks may befatal. Often persons with diabetes have the problem that they will notfeel any warning before the blood sugar concentration has fallen to alevel where a hypoglycemic attack occurs. This phenomenon is known ashypoglycemic unawareness. The risk of an attack therefore often limitsthe possible activities of the people concerned, which furthermoredecreases their quality of life. Attacks can be prevented in a simpleway, e.g. by consuming appropriate food when glucose values becomecritically low. The number of people in the risk group is approximately10 million.

A large part of people with diabetes are elderly persons, of which somecannot always be trusted to take the necessary actions themselves on analarm of an imminent hypoglycemic attack. The same may be the case forchildren having diabetes. For persons who may need assistance inpreventing an imminent hypoglycemic attack it is necessary to have asystem which can also transmit an alarm to a helper, e.g. caregiver, whois not necessarily in the same room. In the case of children the helperwould typically be a parent. In order to avoid errors it is essentialthat the handling of such a system is as simple as possible, and that itis easy to control the system. Simple handling includes that intervalsbetween changing or recharging batteries should be as long as possible.Easy control of the system includes that it should be easy to checkcorrect positioning of the part arranged on the skin surface of thebody. Simple handling and easy control is especially important in anursing home where one helper or caregiver may need to watch out formore than one alarm system related to different persons and at the sametime be doing a number of other tasks.

The purpose of the invention is to provide remote access to wearable EEGmonitoring modules allowing medical care professionals to retrievelogging data from the wearable EEG monitoring modules for analyses andto adjust settings for the wearable EEG monitoring modules.

This purpose is according to the invention achieved by a method forproviding a network connection to a wearable EEG monitoring module viathe Internet. The wearable EEG monitoring module is connected to theInternet via a gateway. The method comprises the steps of providing aplurality of patient records in a patient record server accessible overthe Internet, each patient record including a unique identity for anassociated wearable EEG monitoring module; detecting the presence of awireless connection between said wearable EEG monitoring module and saidgateway; communicating the current connection information to a controlserver; providing, in said control server, an EEG module connectionregister containing said unique identity of wearable EEG monitoringmodules and corresponding communicated current connection information;requesting, from a computer device, said control server to provide thecurrent connection information for said wearable EEG monitoring moduleby providing the associated unique identity; and establishing, from saidcomputer device, a direct connection to said wearable EEG monitoringmodule based on the current connection information retrieved from saidcontrol server.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a systemfor providing a network connection for a computer device to a wearableEEG monitoring module having a gateway to the Internet. The systemcomprises a patient record server accessible over the Internet, andproviding an electronic medical record database, each patient recordincluding an unique identity for an associated wearable EEG monitoringmodule; a control server providing an EEG module connection registerincluding said unique identity of EEG monitoring modules associated withcurrent connection information; and a network connection handlingelement being adapted for detecting the presence of a wirelessconnection between said wearable EEG monitoring module and said gateway,and for uploading current connection information to said control server.The control server is adapted for updating the connection information inthe EEG module connection register when receiving communicatedconnection information, and for providing the current connectioninformation to a computer device upon request, and the computer deviceis adapted for establishing a direct connection to said wearable EEGmonitoring module based on the current connection information requestedfrom said control server.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided acomputer-readable storage medium having computer-executableinstructions, which when executed on a computer device are adapted formanipulating a wearable EEG monitoring module during a remote ward roundsession. When executed, the computer-executable instructions areresponsible for launching the remote ward round session application onthe computer device; accessing from the remote ward round sessionapplication a patient record server over the Internet for retrieving apatient record for the user of the wearable EEG monitoring module to bemanipulated, said patient record contain a unique identity of saidwearable EEG monitoring module; retrieving connection information forsaid wearable EEG monitoring module from the EEG module connectionregister administered by a control server; and establishing a directconnection for programming said wearable EEG monitoring module based onthe connection information retrieved from said control server.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided awearable EEG monitoring module having a unique identity and beingadapted to be connected to a computer device via the Internet. Thewearable EEG monitoring module comprises a network connection handlingelement being adapted to detecting the presence of a wireless connectionbetween the wearable EEG monitoring module and a gateway to theInternet, and to communicating current connection information for thewearable EEG monitoring module to a control server. The computer deviceis adapted to request the current connection information from saidcontrol server based on the unique identity of the wearable EEGmonitoring module, and for establishing a direct connection to thewearable EEG monitoring module.

The invention will be described in further detail with reference topreferred aspects and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a system for providing a networkconnection to a wearable EEG monitoring module according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates in more details the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a system for providing a networkconnection to a wearable EEG monitoring module according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates in more details the system shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically the data exchange in the networkconnection system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for accessing a wearable EEG monitoring moduleover the Internet according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart for maintaining the access data for a wearableEEG monitoring module according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of a method for handling the establishment of adirect connection to a wearable EEG monitoring module according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2, which schematically illustrates asystem for providing a network connection for a computer device 21 towearable EEG monitoring module 1 having a gateway the Internet 16. Agateway is a network node that allows a network to interface withanother network with different protocols. A head 6 of a person providedwith a wearable EEG monitoring module 1 according to a first embodimentof the invention is shown. The wearable EEG monitoring module 1 isadapted for remote surveillance of an EEG signal. The person beingmonitored wears the wearable EEG monitoring module 1 comprising animplantable EEG sensor 2 and an associated processing unit 4. Theimplantable EEG sensor 2 and the processing unit 4 are adapted to be inwireless communication 3 through the skin of the person. The implantedEEG sensor 2 comprises electrodes 5. The EEG sensor 2 will have at leasttwo electrodes 5, which may be arranged as separate electrodes along thesame wire as illustrated. One wire comprising all electrodes associatedwith respective conductors may facilitate the implantation process. TheEEG sensor 2 is adapted for implantation on the head. This implantationmay be subcutaneous or intra cranial. The advantage is that a bettercontact between electrodes and tissue can be obtained. A subcutaneousEEG sensor can also be implanted relatively easy.

The implantable EEG sensor 2 is provided with an electronic module 7receiving one or more differential EEG signals from at least twoelectrodes 5, and delivering an output signal via a coil 36. Theprocessing unit 4 is preferably arranged at the ear of the person ofwhom the EEG signal is being monitored. Preferably, the processing unit4 is arranged in a housing behind the ear as a behind the ear hearingaid. This also facilitates a position as close as possible to theimplanted part, which is important for the wireless communication andpower transfer through the skin. With the position behind the ear of thehousing, means for fixation is also necessary. For this purpose part ofa wire or sound tubing also applied for conveying the sound fromprocessing unit 4 into the ear canal may be used. This means that thiswire or sound tubing should be relatively stiff, i.e. adapted forkeeping the original given shape during use. Further to this purpose thewire or sound tubing can also be used for providing a sound alarm ormessage to the user. In the case of a wire the loudspeaker or receivercould be arranged within or close to the ear canal. In the case of soundtubing the loudspeaker or receiver could be arranged in the housing ofthe processing unit.

The wearable EEG monitoring module 1 communicates preferably with thepersonal communication device 13—here shown as a smartphone. Thepersonal communication device 13 according to the invention is Internetenabled which means that the personal communication device 13 may accessthe Internet 16 via a wireless Internet connection (e.g. WLAN such as802.11_(a, b or g)), or a cellular data connection (e.g. WCDMA or LTE).Advantageously, the personal communication device 13 has the ability todownload and launch application software from an app store via theInternet. The term “app” is short for application software which is aset of one or more programs designed to carry out operations for aspecific application. Application software cannot run on itself but isdependent on system software to execute.

A server 25 hosts a centrally operated outpatient Electronic MedicalRecord (EMR) system or an electronic patient medical database 26 beingaccessible over the Internet; and each patient record involving remotesurveillance of an EEG signal includes a unique identity for anassociated EEG monitoring module 1. Furthermore, a control server 19 isproviding an EEG module connection register 19 a including uniqueidentity for EEG modules with associated connection information,preferably including the IP address and port number. The personalcommunication device 13 includes a network connection handling element43 which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is being adapted fordetecting the presence of the short range wireless connection 34 betweenthe wearable EEG monitoring module 1 and the gateway. The networkconnection handling element 43 is integrated as a part of the personalcommunication device 13, and is adapted for uploading current connectioninformation to the control server 19. The control server 19 is adaptedfor updating the connection information in the EEG Module connectionregister 19 a when receiving uploaded connection information. Thecontrol server 19 furthermore provides the connection information to acomputer device 21 upon request. The computer device 21 is adapted forestablishing a direct connection to the at least one EEG monitoringmodule 1 based on the connection information requested from the controlserver 19.

The wireless connection 3 between the implantable EEG sensor 2 and theprocessing unit 4 is based on an inductive coupling between the coil 36and a coil 37 in an inductive radio 38 of the processing unit 4. Thiswireless connection 3 is applied to transfer power from the processingunit 4 to the implantable EEG sensor 2. Thereby, it is possible tooperate the implantable EEG sensor 2 without a battery. The two coils36, 37 should be closely aligned on each side of the skin barrier inorder to achieve an efficient power transfer. The center axis of onecoil should preferably continue through the center axis of the othercoil, or the two center axes should be arranged close to each other.This close arrangement is ensured when arranging the processing unit.The implantable EEG sensor 2 must be placed such during implantationthat it will be easy to align the two coils, i.e. the implantable EEGsensor 2 should be arranged in a position where its inductive coil is ata position where it will be easy to arrange the coil of the processingunit 4 aligned. In case of insufficient alignment between the two coilsfor obtaining a satisfactory power and data transmission, this can bedetected by the processing unit 4 and a notification can be sent to thepersonal communication device 13.

The wireless connection based on inductive coupling is also applied fortransmission of the EEG signal from the implanted EEG sensor 2 to theprocessing unit 4. This may be done by varying the load on the coil ofimplanted EEG sensor 2. The changes in load in the implanted EEG sensor2 influence the power load on the coil in the processing unit 4. In thisway an EEG signal can be transmitted from the implanted EEG sensor 2 tothe processing unit 4. The inductive radio 38 switches between twomodes—in the first mode the power supply powers the implanted EEG sensor2, and in the second mode implanted EEG sensor 2 transmits thedifferential EEG signal to the inductive radio 38 which forwards thedata via a module 40 operating as electrode front-end and Analog toDigital Converter (ADC) to a digital signal controller 41. Theprocessing unit 4 comprises a power supply 39 including a battery, e.g.a standard hearing aid battery, for powering the processing unit 4 andthe implantable EEG sensor 2 via the wireless connection 3. Theprocessing unit 4 also comprises a digital signal controller 41 foranalyzing the EEG signal according to predefined algorithms in order toidentify an imminent seizure. The processing unit 4 comprises a memory41 a, such as an EEPROM, for logging EEG signals, specific events oralarms. The processing unit 4 includes a short range radio 42 forcommunication with the personal communication device 13.

A short range radio 44 connects the personal communication device 13 tothe wearable EEG monitoring module 1 by means of the Bluetooth LowEnergy protocol. The personal communication device 13 has memory 49(e.g. EEPROM)—in which a control app 50 for the wearable EEG monitoringmodule 1 is stored. The personal communication device 13 is adapted topresent the control app 50 on a touch screen to the user. The controlapp 50 is adapted to offer control elements, display alarm (togetherwith an acoustic alarm), and present logged data.

The control app 50 of the personal communication device 13 hosts thenetwork connection handling element 43. The personal communicationdevice 13 is according the present embodiment a smartphone. The personalcommunication device 13 includes a processor 46 controlling theoperation of audio elements 48 (like a speaker and a microphone) anduser interface (UI) elements 47 (like a touch screen or keys and adisplay). Furthermore the processor 46 controls the operation of atransceiver 45 serving various mobile communication standards and WLANstandards connecting the personal communication device 13 to theInternet 16. The transceiver 45 may establish one or more competingInternet connections, e.g. via the cellular network and via a publichotspot or a router at home. The network connection handling element 43identifies the current connection information, preferably including theIP address and port number, for the Internet connection identified. Thenetwork connection handling element 43 detects the presence of the shortrange communication channel between the personal communication device 13and the wearable EEG monitoring module 1, and the long rangecommunication channel from the personal communication device 13 to theInternet 16.

The connection information includes the current IP address of the EEGmonitoring module 1. Furthermore, the connection information may alsoinclude the port number of the EEG monitoring module 1, as an IP addressis always associated with a port of the host. The port is the endpointof communication in the hosts operating system. In some situations itmay be advantageous to identify the protocol type of the communicationin the connection information.

When the short range communication channel and long range communicationchannel both are present, the network connection handling element 43transmits a connection information notification 30 (also shown in FIG.5) over the Internet 16 to the control server 19 whose connectioninformation is preprogrammed into the network connection handlingelement 43. The connection information notification 30 provides theunique identity for the EEG monitoring module 1 linked to the currentInternet addresses and preferably also port number.

The transmission of the connection information notification 30 istrigged by an event both the short range communication channel and longrange communication channel are present. Hereby the control server 19 isable to maintain its EEG module connection register 19 a as a look-uptable in which the unique identity for the wearable EEG monitoringmodule 1 may be translated to the current connection information of thenetwork connection handling element 43. The connection information inEEG module connection register 19 a for a unique identity for thewearable EEG monitoring module 1 may be prioritized according to databandwidth or data pricing, and these information may be provided by thepersonal communication device 13.

The network connection handling element 43 serves several purposes—itmonitors status of the connectivity for the wearable EEG monitoringmodule 1, handles session security, and notifies the current connectioninformation to an EEG module connection register 19 a. The networkconnection handling element 43 may be downloaded to the personalcommunication device 13 from an app store and stored in a memory, e.g.Solid State Drive, of the personal communication device 13.

When a medical professional or a monitoring server needs to exchange orcollect data from the wearable EEG monitoring module 1, the patientmedical record may be accessed in the patient record server 25 fromwhere the unique identity for the EEG monitoring module in question maybe retrieved. Preferably, the program handling the data exchange andretrieving the unique identity for the EEG monitoring module 1,automatically sends the connection information request 31 to the controlserver 19, and sets up the direct connection 33, preferably using UDPhole punching, to the network connection handling element 43 based onthe connection information response 32 from the EEG module connectionregister 19 a. The direct connection 33 is handled as described withreference to FIG. 5.

The centrally operated outpatient Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systemor an electronic patient medical database 26 contains personalinformation such as name, address and additional contact data like phonenumber and e-mail address. For each patient, the record contains datalike birthday, social security number, and health insurance number. Foreach patient record there is provided security elements as credentialsfor accessing to one or more data fields and secure keys forestablishing a secure connection between the computer device 21 and thewearable EEG monitoring module 1. The patient may by means of the storedsecurity elements edit credentials via a web-interface. The patientrecord manager may by means of certificates control persons allowed toRead and Edit data in the patient record and thereby in the wearable EEGmonitoring module 1.

Finally the patient record includes a data field identifying thewearable EEG monitoring module 1 associated with the account, andidentified by manufacturer, EEG monitoring module model, serial number,and software version.

FIG. 3 shows a wearable EEG monitoring module 1 according to one aspectof the invention. The EEG monitoring module 1 can be worn in the earcanal of a person to be monitored, e.g. for detecting hypoglycemia, e.g.like a per se known In-The-Canal (ITC) hearing aid. Furthermore, thedevice will allow healthcare personal to remote monitor and record EEGdata for the patient—either continuously or as periodical upload oflogged data (data harvesting). Healthcare personnel would then beallowed to monitor patients who have regularly recurring problems likeseizures or micro-sleep. The wearable EEG monitoring module 1 will notinterfere with normal life, because the wearable EEG monitoring module 1has an acoustic vent 116 so the wearer will be able to hear. After awhile, the wearer forgets that he wears the wearable EEG monitoringmodule 1. The wearable EEG monitoring module 1 is on its outer surfaceprovided with two active electrodes 5. Internally the wearable EEGmonitoring module 1 contains a customized housing 14. The EEG monitoringmodule 1 is arranged in the ear canal with the electrodes in contactwith the tissue in the ear canal. Thereby any kind of surgery isavoided, but the contact between the electrodes and the tissue is lessstable.

The wearable EEG monitoring module 1 in the customized housing 14 isformed to fit into the external auditory canal 111 of the wearer, anddefines a cavity in the external auditory canal 111 together with thetympanic membrane 110, and the cavity is opened by means of the acousticvent 116 extending through the entire length of the wearable EEGmonitoring module 1. Preferably the wearable EEG monitoring module 1does not extend beyond the pinna 112.

The electronic components of the wearable EEG monitoring module 1 areshown schematically in enlarged view in the dotted box. The electroniccomponents include a power supply 39 based upon a standard hearing aidbattery for powering the electronics. The two electrodes 5 provided onthe surface of the wearable EEG monitoring module 1 pick up a potentialand delivers the data via a module 40 operating as electrode frontendand Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) to a controller 41. The controller41 receives the amplified and digitized signal for processing. Thecontroller 41 analyses the EEG signal picked up for detectinghypoglycemia by monitoring the brain wave frequency, and if the brainwave frequency falls beyond a predefined interval, this may indicatethat a medical emergency may arise. Hypoglycemia is a medical emergencythat involves an abnormally diminished content of glucose in the blood.

Upon detection of abnormal brain wave activities, the controller 41provides an alert for the patient via an audio front-end module 35including a microphone and a speaker. With the microphone, thecontroller 41 is able to pick up audio samples and classify the currentsound environment. Furthermore, the controller 41 establishes a wirelesscommunication link by means of a short range radio 42 being able toconnect to the Internet 16 via a communication standard, such as theBluetooth™ Low Energy standard. The controller 41 adjusts the predefinedinterval for normal brain wave activity in correlation to the real timeclock information and the sound environment classification. With thespeaker, the controller 41 is able to alert the wearer of the wearableEEG monitoring module 1 that a medical emergency may arise and thatprecautionary actions have to be taken.

The controller 41 is connected to a memory 41 a, such as an EEPROM, forlogging EEG signals, specific events or alarms. The memory 41 a furtherhosts the network connection handling element 43, and this will bedescribed in details below.

Referring to FIG. 4, in which it is seen that the EEG monitoring module1 comprises the electronic components shown in FIG. 3. The EEGmonitoring module 1 uses short range radio 42 for establishing awireless connection to a gateway to the Internet 16. This gateway may bethe personal communication device 13, a router (e.g. WLAN) in a privatedomain or a hotspot in a public domain. A hotspot is a physical locationthat offers Internet access over a wireless local area network (WLAN)through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet serviceprovider. Hotspots typically use Wi-Fi technology.

The EEG monitoring module 1 comprises a network connection handlingelement 43 stored as a software program in the non-volatile memory 41 a.The network connection handling element 43 detects when a new networkconnection to the EEG monitoring module 1 has been established—e.g. aconnection to a hotspot or to a router in the private domain, and whenthe current connection information has been identified, the networkconnection handling element 43 transmits a connection informationnotification 30 over the Internet 16 to the control server 19. Theaddress of the control server 19 is advantageously preprogrammed intothe network connection handling element 43. The connection informationnotification 30 provides a unique identity for the EEG monitoring module1 linked to its current connection information. The transmission of theconnection information notification 30 is trigged by an event, e.g. theestablishment of a connection to the Internet via a gateway. Hereby thecontrol server 19 is able to maintain its EEG module connection register19 a as a look-up table in which the unique identity for the EEGmonitoring module 1 may be translated to the current connectioninformation of the EEG monitoring module 1.

The Internet is adapted to relay datagrams across network boundariesbased on the Internet Protocol (IP). The routing function according tothe Internet protocol enables internetworking, and essentiallyestablishes the Internet. The Internet Protocol has the task ofdelivering packets from the source host to the destination host solelybased on the IP addresses in the packet headers. For this purpose, IPdefines packet structures that encapsulate the data to be delivered. Italso defines addressing methods that are used to label the datagram withboth source and destination IP addresses. When sending the connectioninformation notification 30, the current connection information of thenetwork connection handling element 43 is present as source address ofthe data packet embodying the connection information notification 30,and the unique identity for the EEG monitoring module 1 is contained inthe data packet. The control server 19 extracts these two elements andupdates the EEG module connection register 19 a accordingly.

The network connection handling element 43 serves several purposes—itmonitors status of the connectivity of the EEG monitoring module 1,handles session security, and notifies the current connectioninformation to the EEG module connection register 19 a. The networkconnection handling element 43 is embedded into the EEG monitoringmodule before it leaves the factory, and some elements may be stored inthe non-volatile memory 41 a and some elements as security elements andcertificates in a non-editable memory.

The invention is advantageous when a medical care professional, during aremote EEG surveillance for minimizing the risk of an imminenthypoglycemic seizure, analyzes log data from the wearable EEG monitoringmodule 1—either in response to an alarm or in a scheduled session wherethe patient data are analyzed regularly in order to detect anomaly. Thiscould be data or information on incidences where an alarm has almostbeen triggered but was prevented. Prevention of an alarm could takeplace if the person under EEG surveillance was eating or drinking,thereby increasing the blood sugar concentration, just before the alarmwould have been triggered. Also data indicating the physical status ofthe person, e.g. sleeping or awake, could be transferred.

The remote EEG surveillance includes manipulation of a remote wearableEEG monitoring module 1, and this manipulation may include remotecontrol of the wearable EEG monitoring module 1—e.g. remote switchingbetween day, night or exercise mode for the module; data logging of datacaptured by the wearable EEG monitoring module 1; and setting ofoperational parameters for EEG sensing, e. g. thresholds for the alarmfunction.

When a medical care professional needs to manipulate the setting of theEEG monitoring module 1, he may via the computer device 21 access thepatient record from the patient record server 25 from where he mayretrieve the unique identity for the wearable EEG monitoring module 1 inquestion. Preferably the surveillance software running on the computerdevice 21 automatically sends a connection Information request 31 fromthe account based on the unique identity for the wearable EEG monitoringmodule 1 in question to the control server 19. Based upon a look-up inthe EEG Module Connection Register 19 a, the control server 19 respondsto the connection Information request 31 by sending a connectioninformation response 32 containing the current connection information ofthe wearable EEG monitoring module 1 based on the unique identity storedin the patient record.

The computer device 21 then starts to set up a direct connection 33preferably using UDP (User Datagram Protocol) hole punching (used forsetting up connections between Internet hosts in private networks usingnetwork address translators) for establishing a bidirectional UDPconnection. The computer device 21 sends a direct connection set-uprequest 33 a to the network connection handling element 43, and if theEEG monitoring module 1 is still on-line, the network connectionhandling element 43 confirms the request by sending a direct connectionset-up confirmation 33 b. Hereafter, the computer device 21 and thenetwork connection handling element 43 start to exchange payload in abi-directional data packet exchange or direct connection operation 33 c.The payload may include upload of data from the EEG monitoring module 1,such as logging data and settings, and download of data to the EEGmonitoring module 1, such as instruction for remote control of thewearable EEG monitoring module 1. The computer device 21 disconnects thedirect connection by sending a direct connection termination instruction33 d to the network connection handling element 43 once the exchange ofdata packets have been successfully completed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method for accessing an EEGmonitoring module 1 over the Internet 16 according to an embodiment ofthe invention. An entity, e.g. a computer (M2M—“machine-to-machine”—dataconsolidation) or a medical care professional via a computer 21,intending to connect to the EEG monitoring module 1, accesses in step 60the patient record database 26. If the entity is permitted to connect tothe EEG monitoring module 1, the entity is in step 61 able to retrievethe unique identity of the EEG monitoring module 1 from the patientrecord. In step 62, the entity sends the Connection Information Request31 containing the unique identity of the EEG monitoring module 1 to theEEG Module Connection Register 19 a, and receives the current Connectioninformation of the EEG monitoring module 1 in response. In step 63, theentity sets up the direct connection 33 from a computer 21, preferablyusing UDP hole punching, to the network connection handling element 43in the EEG monitoring module 1 (in FIGS. 1 and 2) or in the personalcommunication device 13 connected to the EEG monitoring module 1 (inFIGS. 3 and 4). In step 64, the entity terminates the direct connectionwhen the exchange of data has been completed successfully.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method for maintaining the accessdata for an EEG monitoring module 1 according to an embodiment of theinvention. In step 71, the network connection handling element 43detects the presence of a new connection to the Internet 16; or thenetwork connection handling element 43 detects the presence of aconnection to the Internet 16 from the personal communication terminal13 and a short range connection to the EEG monitoring module 1.

When sending the connection information notification 30 in step 72, thecurrent connection information, including the IP address and portnumber; of the network connection handling element 43 is present assource address of the data packet, and the unique identity for the EEGmonitoring module 1 is contained in the data packet as payload. Thecontrol server 19 extracts these two elements and updates the EEG ModuleConnection Register 19 a accordingly.

These steps are repeated every time the network connection handlingelement 43 detects a change in the connection between the EEG monitoringmodule 1 and the Internet 16.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method for handling theestablishment of the direct connection to the EEG monitoring module 1according to an embodiment of the invention. When the network connectionhandling element 43 in step 73 receives a request for setting up adirect connection 33 a, it starts verifying the validity of theconnection in step 74. This may include verification of certificates. Ifthe validity of the connection has been verified, the network connectionhandling element 43 confirms the establishment of the direct connection33 in step 75.

In step 76, the computer 21 communicates to the network connectionhandling element 43 what kind of data that has to be exchanged—upload oflogging data, download of settings etc. In step 77, the data requestedis exchanged, and in step 78, data are handled as prescribed. Newsettings may overwrite earlier settings in the EEG monitoring module 1,and logging registers may be reset if their content has been uploaded.When the data has been exchanged and handled successfully, the directconnection session is terminated in step 79.

The number of electrodes has so far been identified as a pair of activeelectrodes operating in differential mode. However two or more activeelectrodes may be acting as sensing electrodes for measuring theelectric potential difference relative to an active electrode acting asa common reference electrode. The electrodes will operate in a unipolarlead mode.

1. A method for providing a network connection to a wearable EEGmonitoring module via the Internet, wherein said wearable EEG monitoringmodule is connected to the Internet via a gateway, and comprising thesteps of: providing a plurality of patient records in a patient recordserver accessible over the Internet, each patient record including aunique identity for an associated wearable EEG monitoring module;detecting the presence of a wireless connection between said wearableEEG monitoring module and said gateway; communicating the currentconnection information to a control server; providing, in said controlserver, an EEG module connection register containing said uniqueidentity of wearable EEG monitoring modules and correspondingcommunicated current connection information; requesting, from a computerdevice, said control server to provide the current connectioninformation for said wearable EEG monitoring module by providing theassociated unique identity; and establishing, from said computer device,a direct connection to said wearable EEG monitoring module based on thecurrent connection information retrieved from said control server. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein an Internet enabled personalcommunication device and said wearable EEG monitoring module areconnected for establishing a wireless connection, whereby the personalcommunication device becomes a gateway for said wearable EEG monitoringmodule to a patient record server over the Internet.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, and comprising retrieving, from said computerdevice, log data from said wearable EEG monitoring module via saidgateway.
 4. The method according to claim 1, and comprisingautomatically updating said EEG module connection register of thecontrol server upon creation of new patient records in said patientrecord server.
 5. The method according to claim 1, and comprisinguploading current connection information to said control server upondetection of a new connection to the Internet.
 6. The method accordingto claim 1, and comprising assigning in said EEG module connectionregister a unique identity to said wearable EEG monitoring module andmapping this unique identity to an IP address and a port number.
 7. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein a medical care professional isretrieving data from and adjusting settings of said wearable EEGmonitoring module during a remote EEG surveillance session by means of acomputer program running on said computer device, wherein the computerprogram retrieves identification of said wearable EEG monitoring modulefrom the patient record server and retrieves the associated Connectioninformation from the EEG module connection register administered by thecontrol server.
 8. A system for performing the method according to claim1, said system comprising: a patient record server (25) accessible overthe Internet, and providing an electronic medical record database (26),each patient record including a unique identity for an associatedwearable EEG monitoring module; a control server (19) providing an EEGmodule connection register (19 a) including said unique identity of EEGmonitoring modules associated with current connection information; anetwork connection handling element (43) being adapted for detecting thepresence of a wireless connection between said wearable EEG monitoringmodule (1) and said gateway, and for uploading current connectioninformation to said control server (19); and wherein the control server(19) is adapted for updating the connection information in the EEGmodule connection register (19 a) when receiving communicated connectioninformation, and for providing the current connection information to acomputer device (21) upon request; and wherein said computer device (21)is adapted for establishing a direct connection to said wearable EEGmonitoring module (1) based on the current connection informationrequested from said control server (19).
 9. The system according toclaim 8, wherein said network connection handling element (43) iscontained in said wearable EEG monitoring module (1).
 10. The systemaccording to claim 8, wherein said network connection handling element(43) is contained in an Internet enabled personal communication device(13), and wherein said Internet enabled personal communication device(13) and said wearable EEG monitoring module (1) are provided withrespective transceivers for establishing a short range wirelessconnection, whereby the personal communication device (13) becomes saidgateway for said wearable EEG monitoring module (1) to the Internet(16).
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said networkconnection handling element (43) is adapted for detecting the presenceof said short range wireless connection to said wearable EEG monitoringmodule (1), and for communicating said current connection information tosaid control server (19).
 12. The system according to claim 8, whereinthe computer device (21) is adapted for retrieving log data from saidwearable EEG monitoring module (1) using said gateway.
 13. The systemaccording to claim 8, wherein said patient record server (25) and saidcontrol server (19) are two separate entities.
 14. The system accordingto claim 8, wherein said patient record server (25) automaticallyupdates said EEG module connection register (19 a) of the control server(19) upon creation of new patient records.
 15. The system according toclaim 10, wherein said EEG module connection register each wearable EEGmonitoring module present in the EEG module connection register (19 a).16. The system according to claim 8, wherein said network connectionhandling element (43) is adapted for communicating said currentconnection information to said control server (19) upon detection of anew connection to the Internet (16).
 17. The system according to claim8, wherein said EEG Module Connection Register (19 a) of the controlserver (19) is adapted to assigning in said EEG module connectionregister (19 a) a unique identity to said wearable EEG monitoring module(1) and mapping this unique identity to an IP address and a port number.18. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-executable instructions, which when executed on an computerdevice (21) are adapted for manipulating a wearable EEG monitoringmodule (1) during a remote ward round session, and for performing amethod comprising the steps of: launching the remote ward round sessionapplication on the computer device (21); accessing from the remote wardround session application a patient record server (25) over the Internetfor retrieving a patient record for the user of the wearable EEGmonitoring module (1) to be manipulated, said patient record containinga unique identity of said wearable EEG monitoring module (1); retrievingconnection information for said wearable EEG monitoring module (1) fromthe EEG module connection register (19 a) administered by a controlserver (19); and establishing a direct connection for programming saidwearable EEG monitoring module (1) based on the connection informationretrieved from said control server (19).
 19. The computer-readablestorage medium according to claim 18, wherein the connection informationretrieval and the direct connection establishment is providedautomatically from a surveillance session application once the patientrecord has been accessed.
 20. The computer-readable storage mediumaccording to claim 18, wherein the manipulation of the wearable EEGmonitoring module (1) comprises retrieving data from and/or adjustingsettings of said wearable EEG monitoring module (1) during the remoteward round session under control of a medical professional.
 21. Awearable EEG monitoring module (1) having a unique identity and beingadapted to be connected to a computer device (21) via the Internet (16),and comprising a network connection handling element (43) being adaptedto detecting the presence of a wireless connection between the wearableEEG monitoring module (1) and a gateway to the Internet (16), and tocommunicating a current connection information for the wearable EEGmonitoring module (1) to a control server (19), whereby the computerdevice (21) is adapted to request the current connection informationfrom said control server (19) based on the unique identity of thewearable EEG monitoring module (1), and for establishing a directconnection to the wearable EEG monitoring module (1).